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Wisconsin Football: Key matchups to watch vs. Michigan

By Christian Borman

MADISON, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 07: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates with Jack Coan #17 and Josh Seltzner #70 after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Camp Randall Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 07: Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates with Jack Coan #17 and Josh Seltzner #70 after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter against the Central Michigan Chippewas at Camp Randall Stadium on September 07, 2019 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Here are three matchups that will decide the outcome when Wisconsin football hosts the Michigan Wolverines.

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

Wisconsin football came out hot again last week on both sides of the ball. After a 61-0 beat-down, the Badgers look to be out to prove last year was a fluke down year, and they are back in form.  Through the first two weeks of the season, the Badgers are outscoring their opponents 110-0. They are the only FBS-level team to not allow a point yet this season.

Quarterback Jack Coan put on a show last week. He threw for 363 yards and three touchdowns in just over three quarters of play before backups Graham Mertz and Chase Wolf came on in relief. Meanwhile, Jonathon Taylor continued his great play, running for over 100 yards again, but also scoring four touchdowns, one of which was a receiving score. He now has eight touchdowns on the year (five rushing, three receiving).

The Badgers will have an early test this season, hosting the #10 Michigan Wolverines this Saturday. Michigan (2-0), also coming off a bye week, is coming to town after defeating Army 24-21 in overtime in Week 2. So far, Michigan has not lived up to the hype this season. Their offense has sputtered and turned the ball over five times in their two games. This isn’t what you’d expect from Michigan, so you have to assume they will get it cleaned up before they come to Madison.

This is a huge game for this Wisconsin football team. Not only is this a Big Ten game against a top-ten team in Michigan, but this will be a good game for the Badgers to prove they are a team that can win the conference this year. After last year’s disappointing outcome, a lot of people wrote the Badgers off and claimed the Big Ten West is wide open while also crowning the Nebraska Cornhuskers the “favorite”.

If Wisconsin can defeat Michigan this weekend, they would likely prove they are still the power in the Big Ten West and the road to Indianapolis will have to go through them.

Looking at this upcoming game, there will be some matchups where Wisconsin will need to take advantage to win this game. Here are three matchups to watch when the Wolverines come to town.